Entwined Souls

18//Trust Issues

The anger from Dr. Collins's eyes filled Ellie with guilt.

"Oh, Jack!" Ellie cried. "I knew this was a bad idea."

What do you mean "I knew"?

"You don't need ta worry. I'll take all te blame," Jack comforted.

"He'll never trust me again." She buried her face in her hands and let out a groan.

"You're being dramatic," he stated. "Of course he'll still trust ya."

She shifted in her seat.

"Jack," Ellie began. "Do you trust me?" she wondered out loud.

Jack was thrown off by this statement. It made her look vulnerable in a sense. As if she wasn't just some lab experiment all the other kids made her look like. He thought about the reality of the question. Did he really trust her?

"Well, I mean..." He hesitated. She knew the answer and immediately regretted asking. "No," he finished.

Smart man.

"Shut up, Zero," she replied, sinking back into the car seat. "Whatever. I shouldn't have asked."

"But only because ah have learned a ting about trust," Jack said, trying to spare her feelings. "If ya don't trust someone, tey can't disappoint ya." His voice had taken a serious turn. You could tell there was meaning behind his statements. She nodded. Jack felt a little more understood.

The next few seconds felt like minutes. They both reflected on their conversation, as those usually don't happen with Ellie. She listened Zero complain on and off about just how bad of an idea this was.

"Sometimes I look in the mirror and ask myself that question," Ellie mumbled to herself, just loudly enough for Jack to hear over the sound of the truck's engine. "I wonder if I trust me," she became more timid. "And I have the same answer as you," she completed her spiel and chuckled at herself.

"So when did he get up ter?" he gestured to Ellie.

"When did who get where?" She asked.

"When did Zero get up in yer noggin?" he clarified. Ellie was used to these kinds of questions, but someone often answered for her. She liked how he asked her instead of Dr. Collins or anyone else. And although it was silly, she appreciated the light tone he could quickly change back to after a serious or awkward moment.

"He's always been there," she answered. "His soul got tangled up with mine when I was born," she tried to make clear. "They were both heading different directions when they collided and now-"

"He's stuck," Jack finished.

Stuck. I'm stuck.

"How did you not know this? Didn't Dr. Collins tell you?" Ellie queried. Everyone avoids going to her for information and instead refers to a professional.

"I never asked him," Jack said, pulling up to a large house. "It wasn't important to me."

They got out of the car and Ellie threw her backpack over her shoulder.

You don't have to do this, Ellie.

"I know, Zero," she snapped. Jack offered her his arm and she looped her arm around it. Chin pointed up she admired the lights and the faint music she could hear from outside. "I want to."